Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-18

purloined from my OvercOat that was
lying on the pew seat must have been
put there by some other fellow. I soon
felt that it was useless to talk, for even
if could have proved it she would have
deduced from the occurrence an argu-
Eaent in favor of heredity just the same,
for could not deny that had been some
what addicted to the use of the delectable
weed.
Monday went about my business, feel
ing sure the limp looking and white faced
boys wouldn't get far from home that
day, and was somewhat surprised to hear
my wife's distracted call, "Is it you,
John?" and, answered, rather mpatiently,
eyes, It's john" and felt little inclined
to curse the telephone inventor, when she
said, "Have you seen the boys?" "No,
and don't want to-" was my savage ans
wer.
An hour later there was another call,
and somebody said, Smith the baby is
lost, and your wife is nearly frantic.'
Those boys of mine had completely de-
molished my "wheel" some weeks before,
and [ had not replaced it; but Jameson,
\ clerk, who is about my build, kindly
lent me his, end L rolled away like a boy
on a race course.
Doors wide open; not person about
the premises; .even the dog missing. A
ringing of the telephone bell was a
momentary relief, but when I listened to
the voice of the city marshal, and learned
that several of the police force were
securing the city for my children, and my
wife was IN commissions at the "station,'
where she went thinking that some one
must have found and reported her babies,
l tore my hair-or rather / tore through
the street at John Gilpin gate. with
such grave responsibility upon me must
adhere to the strict truth; hyperbole, even
metaphor, shall be strictly avoided. J
Poor Julia! Mary had taken the baby
out for an airing, and leaving her for
one moment to speak TO friend, return
ed Immediately, she says, to find neither
baby nor carriage.
The girl came home nearly wild, and
my wife was quite so; she had just miss
ed the boys and telephoned to me, ''to
get my cruel answer" The whole neigh
borhood was aroused in vain, and then
my wife herself went to the police station,
Mary accompanying her and assuring
her that 'ivery day the place was full of
children who got thimsilves lost" The
Disappointment was too much, and she
swOOned-
We telegraphed and we telephoned
here, there and everywhere where there
was the least possible chance of hearing
from them. Some one said there was a
gypsy camp just outside the city, and
nothing would pacify my wife save to
send a posse of policemen there to find
her ''little Kathie, whom they had stolen"
Suddenly it Numbered and lightened, rain
fell in torrents and the little children
were-where? oh, where? It would be
impossible for one who has not had the
experience to conceive of the misery
caused by those little scamps.
Drenched 20 the skin as 1 was, my wife
who had recovered consciousness, threw
herself into my arms and cried John! oh,
john! our babies are dead" and deafen-
ing, crashing roar, that followed fash
of light nearly blinded me, drowned
the rest of her plaintive cry, and the next
moment I had pallid face on my
shoulder and a helpless form in my arms.
She son revived, however, and mother
love and courage over powered the senti-
ments that predom1nated at sight of me
and knowledge of the terrific storm.
Reason and judgment and my most per-
suasive powers combined indaced her
to remain where she was till the severe
shower was over and a carriage could
be brought to take her home, where, I
assured her, I would certainly bring the
children in a very short time.
I'll not attempt to tell how We survived
the horrors of the next few hours. The
afternoon did pass, but [ looked in the
glass next morning, surprised to see my
hair as black as crows wing, and gazed
upon my family, and wondered if it
were all hideous nightmare.
At about eight o'clock in the evening
l returned to the house, as had at inter
walls, just as team dashed to the door,
and cries of "Papa" "Papaw reached
my ears. I clasped the two boys to my
heart, and for a moment forgot all else.
The familiar cry had reached my wife,
and all four of us were in a seemingly
inextricable heap. Suddenly she cried:
''My Kathie! my baby! Where's my babyj"
"You haven't lost a baby too" exclaIm-
ed the gentleman who had returned the
boys,
"Oh, we gave her away, but p'r'aps you
can buy her back" said Alphonse. By
the time we comprehended the whole
story, I'm afraid I felt little like the
Irish woman whose story when a school
boy, told many times-''ready to break
every bone in his body"
1t seems that after climbing over the
pickets, which had been strictly forbidden
they went through the back street for
quite distance, coming out just in time
to see Mary leave Kaithie, and, catching
up the carriage pole, ran away as fast as
they could. "We were going for candy"
they said, 'but couldn't find the place"
After they went "miles," Alph told US,
they got on ''where the trunks go, when
the man didn't see, and had great long
ride"
As near as we could ascertain, they
pushed the baby carriage about for some
time, and then stole six mile ride on
the back of a hack. 1t commenced to
rain just as the driver drew up at the
residence of the gentleman who returned
them. AS he assisted a lady to alight,
they got down unnoticed, but were soon
discovered by the lady of the house, and
cared for till her husband arrived and
immediately took the culprits home.
Question after question in regard to
baby elected only one answer; "We gave
I., -